Marathon winner takes comical tumble

Kenyan runner Robert Mbithi had every reason to smile after setting the fastest ever time to win the Bath Half Marathon.

But the grin was quickly wiped off his face after getting comically tripped up at the finish line.

Crossing the line after shaving 16 seconds off the race record, the 26-year-old raised his arms aloft in joy when he became entangled in the finishing tape and was sent sprawling to the ground.

Fortunately, Mbithi was uninjured in the fall and seemed to take the mishap in good humour as he regained his feet to raucous applause from the crowd.

The footage has since gone viral to give the Kenyan's exploits an international audience.

Although Mbithi didn't address the tumble in his post-race interview, the champion runner said he was delighted with his effort.  

But not so the English weather.

"I am very happy with that. I liked the course and the support from the spectators was fantastic," he said. 

"I only arrived her from Kenya on Friday so it feels very cold to me."